Baghali Ghatogh (Fava Bean Stew)

Published April 26, 2022

Baghali Ghatogh (Fava Bean Stew)
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist; Simon Andrews.
Total Time
40 minutes
Rating
4(637)
Comments
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A popular and beloved stew from northern Iran, baghali ghatogh is an ambassador of early spring produce. Earthy, bright-green fava beans, fragrant dill and an assertive amount of garlic are combined with eggs for a comforting meal. Although shelling and peeling fresh favas is a rite of passage (see Tip), it’s a time-consuming task, given the amount needed here (but if you have the time, go for it!). Frozen fava beans are a worthy substitute, but if they aren't available, you can use canned butter beans or frozen lima beans. Just enough eggs are used to give the stew some heft, but they shouldn’t overwhelm the vibrant flavors of this verdant stew. The eggs can be incorporated two ways: cracked in and poached, or stirred in to break apart. Baghali ghatogh is typically served over rice with a side of smoked fish and pickled garlic, or with bread. 

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Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 servings
  • ¼cup olive oil
  • 5 to 10large garlic cloves (depending on preference), finely grated  
  • 1teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 14ounces double-peeled frozen fava beans, thawed (see Tip), or 2 (15-ounce) cans butter beans, lima beans or cannellini beans, rinsed
  • 2large bunches fresh dill (about 8.5 ounces), stems trimmed, finely chopped, or ¼ cup dried dill
  • Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
  • 3 to 4large eggs
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

192 calories; 12 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 15 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 9 grams protein; 261 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Add the oil and garlic to a medium pot, then set it over medium-low heat. Cook the garlic, stirring often, until fragrant and cooked, taking care not to burn it, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the turmeric, stir and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the beans, dill, 1½ teaspoons salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Stir gently so the beans don’t break, and cook for about 3 minutes, just so the flavors meld and no longer taste raw.

  2. Step 2

    Increase the heat to medium-high, add enough water to cover the beans, about 2 cups (or more as needed, if you’re using cannellini beans, which absorb more liquid), and bring to a gentle boil. Partially cover with the lid barely ajar, reduce the heat to medium-low, and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender, but still maintain their shape (no mushy beans please), and the flavors have come to life, about 12 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Taste the beans and liquid for salt and pepper, and adjust as needed. The stew should be juicy enough to serve over rice, but if it seems too liquidy, remove the lid and cook a little longer to reduce it, keeping in mind that the eggs will also thicken it up. Add a little more water if the stew is too thick.

  4. Step 4

    Increase the heat to medium and add the eggs one at a time. If poaching whole eggs, use 4 eggs and make individual wells in the stew before adding each egg. Cook, uncovered, until the whites set and the yolk is cooked to desired consistency, 3 to 5 minutes. (Alternately, you can stir the eggs in: Add 3 eggs, then run a spoon through each egg to break them apart and cook, slightly covered, until the eggs set, about 3 to 5 minutes.) Taste, add more water if the stew is too thick, adjust seasoning and serve.

Tips
  • Tip 1: Frozen double peeled fava beans can be found at Iranian and Middle Eastern markets, and online. If using frozen lima beans, use the same amount.
  • Tip 2: If using fresh favas: Use 3 pounds fresh fava beans in their pods. Remove the favas from their pod (the first thick layer) as you would to shell fresh green peas. Once podded, bring a small pot of water to a boil and prepare an ice bath. Place the podded beans in the boiling water for a quick minute or two, then drain and dunk in the ice bath. Drain and easily pop the skin off by giving the bean a squeeze.

Ratings

4 out of 5
637 user ratings
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Comments

This was delicious, but the recipe, in my view, calls for far too much dill. Using two bunches completely overwhelmed the wonderful flavor and made it bitter. I ended up dredging out clumps of dill and then adding a can of cannellini beans. Next time I will make with half the dill to start with and it will be perfect. I also used canned butter beans.

Another fava peeling tip: using the edge of a razor (I use a single edge blade), score the whole pod, going deep enough to nick the beans inside. This makes removing the beans from the pod very easy. Then, after you parboil the favas, the beans will squirt out the nicked places much more easily. (Otherwise, you have to nick each parboiled bean with your thumbnail to provide an escape route, and after a pound, your thumb starts getting sore.)

I know nothing about Iranian cuisine so I hope this isn’t a cultural faux pas and apologize if it is - after tasting the end result, I at least doubled the black pepper, upped the tumeric, added a splash of lemon for brightness, and threw in some paprika for a slightly more complex flavor.

I only had dried dill so i used that but also added 1 cup chopped arugula to stand in for the fresh dill leaves.

So similar to how my dad made it growing up. It was delicious!

This is DELICIOUS. Bizarrely delicious--it has hardly any ingredients, but tastes amazing. Really rich and still a bit fresh and green.

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